ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — A former New Mexico police chief is facing charges that he raped a woman while she was in custody.
A grand jury indicted fired Jemez Springs police chief Shane Harger on Thursday on charges of kidnapping, criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact and extortion.
State police arrested Harger at his Edgewood home.
According to a complaint filed in January, the 19-year-old victim says she and three men were stopped by Jemez Springs police. The woman says Harger raped her while holding her at the police station for three hours.
State police spokesman Emmanuel Gutierrez says an investigation found a “sexual act did occur.”
Harger was fired in February over what town officials say was questionable judgment.
An attorney for Harger says he is innocent of all charges.